Better 120V AC outlet

[CS Cruiser]

Ask for HOSPITAL GRADE regardless of brand when looking for a quality receptacle, will cost more but there is a reason
You won't get at a Home Depot or hardware store, but any electrical distributor in your area can get for you.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by dave948

I wouldn't install a 20 amp device unless your existing wiring is rated at 20 amps. The 20 amp device has a different blade configuration than the 15 and will allow items requiring over 15 amps to be plugged into this circuit. It also sends the wrong message to people looking at the device..

Do you know of anyone (besides and electrician) who knows the difference? Do you have any plug in devices on your boat that draw over 15 amps?

[jeepbluetj]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Do you know of anyone (besides and electrician) who knows the difference? Do you have any plug in devices on your boat that draw over 15 amps?

I certainly do, and I'm not really an electrician. (I'm a EE that makes software) I would never use the 20A outlet on a 15A circuit. The industrial quality outlets are good at the 15A size.

WRT hospital outlets - they're typically orange and that means isolated ground - i.e. the ground screw is not attached to the mounting lugs.

[Cheechako]

Well... realistically, the shore power is 30 amp... and they built the boat with 20 amp receptacles.

[Badsanta]

They built my house with a 200 amp service, so do I need 200 amp receptacles? LOL

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Utahsailor

Several of the Beneteau AC outlets have been damaged on our B49, with a burnt look around the plugs. The biggest load has been a 1500W heater. Is there a better AC outlet available?

You sure it's the outlets ? If its a French built Beneteau there is a very good chance she was built for 240volts with the appropriate light gauge wiring. Many French boats are converted to 120volts by simply changing the shore power inlets to 30/120 in which case the wiring is too light for the higher current.

[jeepbluetj]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Well... realistically, the shore power is 30 amp... and they built the boat with 20 amp receptacles.

That's great and all, but what's the breaker size/wire size from the 110v panel?

That's also the problem with converting from 220, as the wire guage is half what it should be.

[Scott Berg]

To be clear

20 amp outlets
12awg or larger wiring
20amp breakers

I wasn't recommending non-complaint wiring


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by jeepbluetj

That's great and all, but what's the breaker size/wire size from the 110v panel?

That's also the problem with converting from 220, as the wire guage is half what it should be.

Yes, sorry, didn't mean to mis lead. Really wonder if the manufacturer ran different sizes thru the boat though. SO... the 1500 watt heater wold draw maybe 12.5 amps wide open... but as many of us know, that will destroy a 30 amp shore power cord in a year.

[CS Cruiser]

WRT hospital outlets - they're typically orange and that means isolated ground - i.e. the ground screw is not attached to the mounting lugs.[/QUOTE]

Correction, while isolated ground "orange" are readily common in hospitals and other installations, that's not what I was referring to I an earlier reply in this thread.
You can purchase "hospital grade or specification" in standard configuration or any other for that matter, the quality will far exceed the hardware store stuff, commercial spec, etc..... Isolated ground receptacles are not meant for use on boat.

[stevo_002]

Originally Posted by Utahsailor

Several of the Beneteau AC outlets have been damaged on our B49, with a burnt look around the plugs. The biggest load has been a 1500W heater. Is there a better AC outlet available?

Does anyone know of a single (not duplex) replacement option that fits the European standard housing?

Wiring is adequate but outlet is clearly under spec'd and I would prefer not to add duplex outlets

Any advice appreciated

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by stevo_002

Does anyone know of a single (not duplex) replacement option that fits the European standard housing?

Wiring is adequate but outlet is clearly under spec'd and I would prefer not to add duplex outlets

Any advice appreciated

What do you mean by "adequate" ?Not unusual to have wiring installed in a French boat designed for 220VAC. When the boats were shipped to NA all they did was change the breakers and leave the under spec'd cable in place.

[trishark]

Many Beneteaus have been built in the US for the last 10 plus years and are built for 120 use with correct wire size. My boat is over a thousand miles away. If memory serves me correct, the single 120 vac 15 amp outlets on my 2009 B40 are of German manufacture.


Found a LEVITON 1374-1W that looks like it might work. Spec sheet lists them as hospital grade. This model has pigtails and do not remember how mine connects. Price I found was probably 1/3 of Beneteau price.

[stevo_002]

I will check the Leviton model out - many
thanks